Contact lenses are thin lenses placed on our cornea to help us see better. They are used to correct vision or simply for cosmetic reasons. Contact lenses are very safe if used properly and are a very effective form to correct the vision. Any kind of carelessness whether not keeping the lenses clean or not store them as directed by the physician can cause serious risks to your eyes like infections. One should wear lenses for around 10-12 hours a day only. Therefore we should have a proper schedule and take out the lenses after some time and let our eyes rest. Always keep in mind that you should not sleep while wearing contact lenses not even for 15-20 minutes as it creates a passage for the harmful bacteria to enter our eyes. If you sleep by mistake make sure you put on some eye drops after you wake up.
Colored contact lenses are also known as cosmetic lenses that change the look of your eyes. They change your eye’s color or the shape of the pupil to give it certain effects. Some of the common colored contact lenses are cat-eye, blackout, and zombie eye contact. People may use it for vision correction or simply for fashion. In some countries, mainly in the USA, it is illegal to sell colored contact lenses without the proper prescription signed by the doctor.
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Types of Coloured Contact lenses
Most colored contact lenses are designed to keep the colored part of your eye (iris) looking natural and attractive – just a different color.
The central zone of these color lenses – the part which is directly in front of the pupil – usually is clear to allow the same amount of light to enter your eye as regular (non-tinted) contacts.
Basically, there are two types of color contacts, based on the density of the tint(s) used:
Enhancing colored contact lenses
These lenses have a translucent (see-through) tint that modifies the color of your eyes without changing it completely. As their name implies, enhancement color lenses are designed to enhance or deepen the natural color of your eyes. These lenses are best for people who have light-colored eyes and want to make their eye color more intense.
Opaque color lenses. These colored contact lenses have dense, non-transparent tints that can give you a completely different eye color. If you have dark brown eyes, for example, you’ll need this type of lens to change your eye color to blue, green, grey, or other colors.
Special-Effects Coloured Contact Lenses
Special-effects colored contact lenses (also called costume or theatrical lenses) are a variety of opaquely tinted lenses that intentionally produce an unnatural appearance. Special-effect contact lenses have an opaque (non-transparent) tint to completely mask your natural eye color and are available in a wide variety of dramatic colors and designs. The center of the lens, which lies over your pupil, is clear so you can see.
Most novelty or costume contact lenses cover just the colored portion of your eye (iris), but special-effect scleral lenses, like all-black, red, yellow, or white contacts, cover both the iris and the “white” (sclera) of your eyes to create a truly haunting look. “Circle” lenses are another popular type of special-effect color lenses. Also called “big-eye” lenses, these theatrical lenses make the wearer’s eyes look larger than normal, like those of an anime cartoon character.
There even are special-effect contact lenses that display the logo of your favorite professional sports team! Because the tinting of many special-effect contact lenses extends across the entire lens – including the central portion that covers the pupil – caution should be taken when wearing these lenses for activities like driving at night, since they can decrease the amount of light entering the eye and may affect vision in low-light conditions.
Eye Exam for Costume Lenses
- Your doctor will take the proper measurement of your eyes before prescribing you these lenses to avoid any kind of complications.
- The doctor will conduct several eye examinations to check whether you should wear contact lenses or not. People who get frequent eye infections, allergies, or those who are surrounded by a dusty environment are advised not to wear contact lenses. As they might not be able to handle them which can be harmful to the eyes.
- The doctor will give you proper instructions on how to use the lenses and the proper way to keep them.
- The doctor will also tell you the duration for you to wear the lenses. Always keep in mind that you should not wear the lenses while sleeping and if you do so by mistake make sure you rinse your eyes properly after you wake up.
Visibility Tints
Those colored contact lenses that are not designed to enhance or change your eye color have a very faint (usually light blue) tint that extends across the entire lens surface. This is called a visibility tint, or sometimes a “handling” tint.
The purpose of visibility tints is to help you see your contacts when they are in the manufacturer’s packaging or in your lens case, and help you find your lenses if you drop them while applying, removing, or cleaning your lenses.
These lightly tinted lenses will not noticeably alter your eye color or affect your vision. Visibility Tinted Contact Lenses are lightly tinted (i.e., they contain only a small amount of dye). Wearing them will not alter the natural color of your eyes. The tint allows you to quickly find contact lenses in your lens case or if you accidentally drop your lenses while inserting or removing them.
Prescription for Coloured Contact Lenses
If you are interested in colored contact lenses, see your eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam and contact lens consultation and fitting.
Always keep the following things in mind:
- Never purchase colored contact lenses sold at flea markets or from other unlicensed sources. Doing so greatly increases your risk of serious eye problems.
- Never Exchange Colored Contact lenses with Friends.
Exchanging contact lenses can transmit harmful bacteria and cause serious eye infections.
If you are interested in trying contacts with different colors than those you already have, return to your eye care provider to see the full variety of colors that are available. If you stay with the same lens brand, you do not need another contact lens fitting to purchase different colors. Choosing more than one color can be fun, and allows you to change your eye color to match your wardrobe or your mood!
Things to keep in mind
Our eyes are the most sensitive part of our body; therefore, one should always be careful while wearing lenses. Any sign of carelessness can cause serious infections to our eyes. The first and the foremost thing people should keep in mind while wearing lenses or not that keeps your surroundings and hands clean even if you’re are applying some makeup or wearing lenses. Any sign of dirt means injuries to our eyes.
Do’s and Don’ts
- Always wash your hand before and after wearing lenses to ensure proper hygiene.
- Do not pull out the lenses from the case as they might damage or create scratches on them.
- Always slide out the lenses from their case into your palm to keep them safe.
- Avoid wearing lenses if your eyes are red, itchy, painful, or teary as they can be harmful to your eyes during this period.
- Clean your lens case with soap at least once a week to keep the lenses germ and dirt-free.
- Do not use tap water to clean the lenses, use the solution provided by the doctors.
- Do not touch your lenses with dirty hands as the lenses can pass that dirt to your eyes causing serious harm to your eyes.
- Do not share your lenses with anyone as they can pass the dirt from one person to the other.
- Do not overwear your lenses, make sure you do not exceed the time as prescribed by the doctor as it damages our eyes.
- While wearing the lenses makes sure your fingertips are dry and clean.
- Always keep your eyes closed while applying any sort of makeup as it can create a layer over your lenses and can damage them
Caring for Your Colored Contact Lenses
Like all contact lenses, color contacts must be properly cleaned, disinfected, and stored with appropriate lens care products after each use to avoid contamination and potential eye infections.
Also, be sure to discard and replace your colored contact lenses according to the schedule your eye doctor gives you.
If you experience eye discomfort when wearing colored contacts, remove the lenses, call your eye doctor, and bring the lenses with you to your exam so they can be inspected.
As with regular contact lenses, taking proper care of your lenses and seeing your eye doctor for routine check-ups is the best way to get the greatest enjoyment from your color contact lenses.
Tips to Keep Your Eyes Healthy and Safe
- People should always keep themselves hydrated as it reduces the chance of infections.
- One should always rinse their eyes with normal water at least 2-3 times a day to keep their eyes clean and cool.
- One should always avoid using eye makeup if it irritates the eyes.
- Avoid using colored contact lenses daily rather than limit their use only for special occasions.
- Always keep your spectacles with you in case your lenses are damaged.
- Do not make your own rules and regulations for your lenses; always follow what is given by your doctor.
Keep these points in your mind if you do not want your eyes to hurt and be painful. Consult an eye practitioner for the better health of your eyes. As they can guide you with extra tips to keep it clean and healthy. Make sure you check the dates of any product before buying it as expired products are very harmful not only for the eyes but for any part of the body.
To know more about it, you can easily visit our website Eyemantra. If you are looking for other services like cataract surgery, Retina surgery or Ocuploplasty you can simply ring at +91-9711115191. Even you can simply mail us on [email protected].
